Honour commitment regarding places of worship, says councillor
By Aimee Walsh
CALLS to facilitate a place of worship for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association have been made to “honour the commitment” given during the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone process.
Councillor Paul Gogarty put forward a motion at a recent Area Committee Meeting calling on the council to “honour the commitment” that was given to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association during the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) process over three years ago to set out a timeline for the delivery of a place of worship.
In the Clonburris SDZ planning scheme, it recognises the importance of places of worship and multi-faith centres in meeting the community needs, including the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
The planning scheme reads: “Given the potential noise and traffic impacts associated with the use of a building as a place of public worship or religious instruction, places of worship and associated uses require suitable locations.
“The Scheme supports and facilitates the development of places of worship and multi-faith facilities at Clonburris Urban Centre, Kishoge Urban Centre and at other suitable locations where they do not adversely impact on residential amenities and comply with the Planning Scheme.”
In their response to the motion, South Dublin County Council commented that they are “committed” to meeting its objectives in relation to the provision of community facilities such as the place of worship, but a comprehensive infrastructure delivery programme must be devised to facilitate the delivery.
They said: “South Dublin County Council are presently focused on preparing an implementable infrastructure delivery programme, whilst also seeking to meet the requirements of the Public Spending Code to secure URDF funding, which will enable the delivery of this infrastructure. This work is ongoing and currently being advanced.”
The local authority added that once funding is secured for the development, there will be more clarity on where it will take place in a phased basis.
